Push button handle



G. v. JAKEWAY 2,999,712

PUSH BUTTON HANDLE Filed May 16, 1960 IN V EN TOR.

6e ra/o V Joke wa BY ATTORNEY United States Patent 2,999,712 PUSH BUTTONHANDIJE Gerald V. .lakeway, Grand Rapids, Mich., assignor to KeelerBrass Company, Grand Rapids, Mich. Filed May 16, 1960, Ser. No. 29,269 9Claims. (Cl. 292-3363) This invention relates to push button handlesadapted for use on doors for motor vehicles, refrigerators and the like.

The main objects of this invention are,

First, to provide a push button handle which may be easily operated andat the same time is simple and economical in structure.

Second, to provide a push button handle which is well adapted forinstallation on thin walled doors.

Third, to provide a push button handle which is well adapted formanipulation of a latch disposed in substantially spaced relation to thehandle.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appearfrom the description to follow. The invention is defined and pointed outin the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in theaccompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a push button handle embodying myinvention shown in mounted position on a wall, a fragment of which isillustrated.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view, the threaded attaching bolts being partiallybroken away.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view mainly in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 3.3 of FIG. 1, an inner wall being illustrated inrelation to the outer wall fragmentarily shown in FIG. 1, the actuatedor latch connecting rod being shown broken away.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary rear or inside view, the connecting rod beingshown broken away.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view mainly in vertical section on a linecorresponding to line 55 of FIG. 1.

In the accompanying drawing 1 represents the outer wall or panel of adoor and 2 the inner wall or panel thereof. These are conventionallyshown, and it Will be understood that they vary greatly in shape and intheir relation to each other. The latch to which the rod-like actuatedmember 3 is connected is not illustrated as it will be understood thatthat is greatly varied in use, both as to spacing from the handle and ingeneral relation thereto, but in automobile doors for example the latchis commonly substantially spaced from the handle.

In the embodiment of my invention illustrated the handle 4 is designedfor grasping and terminates at its forward end in a head 5 having achamber 6 therein. In the embodiment illustrated the head is providedwith a-substantia1ly flat face 7 and with a horizontally disposed guard8 which overhangs the face 7 and merges into the grip portion of thehandle. The grip portion and the head are formed integrally.

The housing is provided with an opening 9 in the face thereofdimensioned to receive and permit reciprocation therein of the pushbutton '10 which has a laterally projecting flange 11 on its inner endlimiting its outward movement, a gasket 12 being preferably seated onthe flange. The push button-is provided with a stem 13 which is fixedlysecured thereto at 14 and projects rearwardly therefrom in supportedsliding engagement with the tubular bearing member 15. Thisbearingmember is mounted on the plate-like bracket 16 which is fixedlysecured to the rearwardly projecting supporting lugs 17 and 18 by meansof the screws 19 and 20, the screw 20 having an extension 21 projectingthrough the wall member 1 to receive the nut 22 see FIG. 5. The bearingmember 15 is disposed in an opening provided therefor in this plate-likebracket and fixedly connected thereto at 23, desirably by upsets in thebearing member. The

head of the handle is provided with a pair of rearwardly projectinglaterally spaced pivot ears 24 on which the actuating lever 25 ispivotally mounted by the pivot 26 which extends through the ears tosupport the coiled ends 27 of the bowed spring 28 which is engaged underthe lever. The ends 29 of the coiled portions of the spring are engagedwith upwardly facing lugs 30 provided therefor on the bracket member 16.The lever 25 is provided with a forwardly projecting curved arm' 31which projects into the rear end of the bearing intothrust engagementwith the inner end of the push button stem 13, see FIG. 3. The springacts to bias the lever to retracted position shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, andin view of the thrust engagement of the arm 31 with the stem 13 of thepush button, it also acts to yieldingly urge the push button to itsprojected position as shown in FIG. 3. In the embodiment illustrated,the lever is provided with a laterally projecting spherically curvedknuckle 32, as is illustrated by dotted lines in FIG. 4, and with whichthe head 33 of the actuated rod 3 has swivel engagement.

As stated, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide apush button handle structure which is Well adapted to be mounted ondoors which are relativelythin, the only spacing required being therelatively marrow space to permit the swinging of the actuating lever.

It is desired to point out that the drawings of this ap-- plication arefull scale commercial drawings, that is, so far as the handle isconcerned. It is desired to point out, however, that the applicantsinvention may be readily embodied in handles of varying designs anddimensions. Modifications are not illustrated, as it is believed thatthe disclosure made will enable those skilled in the art to embody oradapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimedas new and desiredto secure by Letters- Patent is: I

l. A handle comprising a grip and a head into which the grip merges, thehead including a housing projecting downwardly relative to thelongitudinal plane of the grip and having a substantially flat face witha horizontally elongated opening therein, the head having a forwardlyprojecting guard overhanging said opening and merginginto said grip, aplate-like bracket mounted within said head housing and having anopening therein aligned with said opening in the face of said housing, atubular bear-' ing member mounted on said bracket to project forwardly jtherefrom and extending into said opening in said ho'us-a ing face, arearwardly facing cupped push button recip-- rocatingly disposed in saidopening in said housing and provided with a stem slidable in saidbearing member,-

said head member being provided with laterally spaced pivot earsdisposed below said bearing member, said bracket having an openingtherein aligned with said ears,

a pivot mounted on said ears with its ends projecting laterallytherefrom, a lever mounted on said pivot between said ears to projectrearwardly through said opening in said bracket and having a forwardlyprojecting arm projecting into said bearing member in thrust engagementwith said stem of said push button, and a bowed spring engaging saidlever and having coiled end portions supl portedly mounted on said pivotand terminating in end portions supportedly engaged with said bracket,said lever being provided at its inner end with means for connecting anactuated member thereto.

2. A handle comprising a grip and a head, the head including a housingprojecting downwardly relative to the longitudinal plane of the grip andhaving an opening therein, a bracket mounted within said head housingand having an opening therein aligned wtih said opening in the face ofsaid housing, a tubular bearing member mount on said bracket to projectforwardly therefrom, a.

Patented Sept. 12, 1961 push button reciprocatingly disposed in saidopening, in said housing and provided with a stem slidable in saidbearing member, said head member being provided with laterally spacedpivotears disposedv below said bearing member, said bracket having anopening therein aligned with said ears, a pivot mounted on said earswith its ends projecting laterally therefrom, a lever mounted on saidpivot between said ears to project rearwardly through said opening insaid bracket and having a forwardly pro-- jecting arm projecting intosaid bearing member in thrust engagement with said stem of said pushbutton, and a bowed spring engaging said lever and having coiled endportions supportedly mounted on said pivot and terminating in endportions supportedly engaged with said bracket, said lever beingprovided at its inner end with means for connecting an actuated memberthereto.

. 3. A handle comprising a grip and a head into which the grip merges,the head including a housing projecting downwardly relative to thelongitudinal plane of the grip and having an opening therein, the headhaving a forwardly projecting guard overhanging said opening and merginginto said grip, a bracket mounted within said head housing and having anopening therein aligned with said opening in the face of said housing, atubular bearing,

member mounted on said bracket to project forwardly therefrom andextending into said opening in said housing face, a rearwardly facingcupped push button reciprocatingly' disposed in said opening in saidhousing and provided with a stem slidable in said bearing member, saidhead. member being provided with laterally spaced pivot ears disposedbelow said bearing member, said bracket having an opening thereinaligned with said ears, and a spring biased lever mounted on said pivotbetween said ears to project rearwardly through said opening in saidbarcket and having a forwardly projecting curved arm projecting intosaidbearing member in thrust engagement with said stem of said pushbutton.

4. A handle comprising a. grip and a head, the head in-- eluding ahousing projecting downwardly relative to the longitudinal plane of thegrip and having an opening therein, a bracket mounted within saidhousing and having an opening therein aligned with said opening in theface of said housing, a tubular bearing member mounted on said bracketto project forwardly therefrom, a push button reciprocatingly disposedin said opening in said housing and provided with a stem slidable insaid bearing member, said head member being provided with laterallyspaced pivot ears disposed below said bearing member, said brackethaving an opening therein aligned with said ears, and a spring biasedlever mounted on said pivot between said ears to project rearwardlythrough said opening in said bracket and having a forwardly projectingcurved arm projecting into said bearing member in thrust engagement withsaid stem of said push button.

5. A handle comprising a grip and a head, the head including a housingprojecting downwardly relative to the longitudinal plane of the grip andhaving an opening therein, a bracket mounted within said housing andhaving, an opening therein aligned with said opening in the face of saidhousing, a tubular bearing member mounted on said bracket to projectforwardly therefrom, a push button reciprocatingly disposed in saidopening in said housing and provided with a stem slidable in saidbearing member, said head member being provided with laterally spacedpivot ears disposed below said bearing member,

saidbracket having an opening therein aligned with said cars, a springbiased lever mounted on said pivot between said ears to projectrearwardly through said opemng m said bracket and having, a forwardlyprojecting curved arm projecting into said bearing member in thrustengagement with said stem of said push button, said lever being providedat its inner end with a laterally projecting spherically curved knuckle,and an actuated rod engaged with said knuckle.

6. A handle comprising a grip and chambered head hav ing an openingtherein, a bracket mounted within said head and having an openingtherein aligned with said opening in said head, a tubular bearing membermounted on said bracket to project forwardly therefrom, a rearwardlyfacing cupped push button reciprocatingly disposed in said opening insaid housing and provided with a stem slidable in said bearing member, alever pivotally mounted within said head to project rearwardly therefromand having a forwardly projecting curved arm projecting into saidbearing member in thrust engagement with stem of said push button, saidlever being provided at its inner end with a laterally projectingspherical knuckle, and a rod-like actuated member engaged with saidknuckle.

7. A handle comprising a grip and chambered head having an openingtherein, a bracket mounted within said head and having an openingtherein aligned with said opening in said head, a tubular bearing membermounted on said bracket to project forwardly therefrom, a push button.reciprocatingly disposed in said opening in said housing anprovidedtwith a stem slidable in said bearing member, a lever pivotallymounted within said head to project rearwardly therefrom and having aforwardly projecting armtprojecting into said bearing member in thrustengagement with stem of said push button, said lever being provided atits inner end with a laterally projecting spherical knuckle, and arod-like actuated member engaged with said knuckle.

8. A handle comprising a grip and chambered head having an openingtherein, a bracket mounted within said.

head and having an opening therein aligned with said opening'in saidhead, a bearing member mounted on said bracket to project forwardlytherefrom, a rearwardly facing cupped. push button reciprocatinglydisposed in said opening in said housing and provided with a stemslidable in said bearing member, and a lever pivotally mounted withinsaid head to project rearwardly therefrom and having a forwardlyprojecting curved arm projecting. into said bearing member in thrustengagement with stem.

of said push button and provided with actuated member coupling means atits inner end.

9. A. handle comprising a grip and a chambered head having a push buttonopening therein, a tubular bearing.

member supportedly mounted within said head in alignment with saidopening therein, a push button reciprocatingly mounted in. said openingin said head and provided with a stem slidably and supportedly mountedin said.

bearing member, a lever pivotally mounted within said head to projectrearwardly therefrom and having a forwardly projecting arm disposed insaid bearing member in thrust engagement with said stem of said pushbutton, said lever having a coupling element on its swiugingend,

and an actuated member pivotally connected to the coupling element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,807,492 Iakeway Sept. 24, 1957 2,840,410 Jakeway June 24, 19582,887,866 Leslie May 26, 1959 2,937,045 Leslie et al. May 17, 1960

